Leprosy in Nonimmigrant Canadian Man without Travel outside North America, 2014

Abstract

In Canada, Hansen disease (leprosy) is rare and not considered in diagnoses for nonimmigrant patients. We report Mycobacterium leprae infection in a Canadian man whose sole travel was to Florida, USA. The M. leprae isolate was identified as armadillo-associated genotype 3I-2-v1. Travelers to the southern United States should avoid contact with armadillos.

Keywords

• armadillos
• microbiology
• Canada
• epidemiology
• disease reservoirs
• humans